Bobby Rogers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bobby Rogers
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Robert Edward Rogers |
| Also known as | BR. "Bobby" |
| Born | February 19, 1940 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | March 3, 2013 (aged 73) Southfield, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1956–2013 |
| Labels | Tamla, Motown |
| Associated acts | The Miracles, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, Brandi Williams |
Robert Edward Rogers (born February 19, 1940 – died March 3, 2013) was an American singer and songwriter. He was best known as a member of the famous Motown music group, The Miracles. Bobby Rogers was part of The Miracles from 1956 until he passed away.
In 2012, he was honored by being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Miracles. Besides singing, Bobby also helped write some of the group's popular songs. He was the grandfather of R&B singer Brandi Williams from the group Blaque. He was also a cousin to another Miracles member, Claudette Rogers Robinson.
Contents
Life
Bobby Rogers was born in Detroit, Michigan, on February 19, 1940. Interestingly, he was born on the same day and in the same hospital as Smokey Robinson, another future member of The Miracles. However, they didn't meet until 15 years later.
In 1963, Bobby married Wanda Young, who was a member of another Motown group called The Marvelettes. They had a son named Robert III and a daughter named Bobbae. They later divorced in 1975. In 1981, Bobby married Joan Hughes. They had two daughters, Gina and Kimberly.
The Miracles and Motown Music
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Bobby Rogers was a key part of The Miracles, one of the first and most successful groups on the Motown record label. Motown was a very important music company that started in Detroit.
In 1960, The Miracles released the song "Shop Around". This song became Motown's first number one hit on the R&B music charts. It was also the first Motown song to sell over a million copies! The Miracles went on to have many more big hits, including the number one songs "Tears Of A Clown" and "Love Machine".
Besides singing, Bobby Rogers also helped write songs for Motown artists. He co-wrote "The Way You Do the Things You Do", which was the first big hit for The Temptations. He also helped write "My Baby" for The Temptations, and "What Love Has Joined Together" for Mary Wells. Other songs he co-wrote include "First I Look at the Purse" for The Contours, and "One More Heartache" for Marvin Gaye. He also co-wrote some of The Miracles' own hits like "That's What Love Is Made Of" and "Going to a Go-Go".
Bobby was also known for his singing on "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "You're So Fine And Sweet". People said he was the best dancer in the group. He helped create many of The Miracles' dance moves for their stage shows.
In 2006, Bobby reunited with Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore for an interview about The Miracles' history. Bobby continued to perform with later versions of The Miracles for many years. In 2009, Bobby and the other surviving original members of The Miracles received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Death
Bobby Rogers passed away on March 3, 2013, when he was 73 years old. A few days later, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honored him on their website.
The Miracles: Awards and Recognition
The Miracles, with Bobby Rogers as a member, achieved many great things in music:
- They were the first group signed by Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation.
- Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, said that without The Miracles, there would be no Motown.
- Stevie Wonder also said that without The Miracles, he wouldn't be where he is today.
- They earned many Gold and Platinum Record awards for selling millions of songs and albums.
- They sold over 40 million records around the world.
- Twenty-six of their songs reached the Top Ten on the Billboard R&B Charts.
- Four of their songs reached number one on the Billboard R&B Charts.
- Ten of their albums reached the Top Ten of Billboard's R&B Album Charts.
- They have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame four times, which is more than any other Motown group.
- They are also in the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame.
- Four of their songs are on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" list.
- They received the "Heroes and Legends" Award twice.
- They were given the Rhythm & Blues Pioneer Award.
- They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
- Rolling Stone Magazine named The Miracles the "32nd Greatest Rock n' Roll Artists" of all time.
- Billboard Magazine and VH1 listed The Miracles among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
- Their famous song "Tracks of My Tears" was chosen by the Library of Congress to be preserved forever because it is "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant."
- There is a Miracles Boulevard and Miracles Park in Detroit, Michigan.
- The Miracles received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 20, 2009.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction in 2012
In 1987, Smokey Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. However, the other original members of The Miracles, including Bobby Rogers, were not inducted at that time. This caused many fans to protest.
On February 9, 2012, it was announced that Bobby Rogers and the rest of The Miracles would finally be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This happened on April 14, 2012. After waiting 26 years, Bobby and the other original members – Marv Tarplin, Pete Moore, Claudette Robinson, and Ronnie White – were officially recognized. A special committee of the Rock Hall made this decision. They felt that the entire group should have been inducted with Smokey Robinson back in 1987.
Bobby was also inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2015 with the other original Miracles members.
See also
In Spanish: Bobby Rogers para niños
